San Diego: Whale-watching charters for the whole gang as the migration of the California gray whales will soon be viewable, covered in today’s LATimes Travel.

MGM Grand Las Vegas “Locals Special Offer” with rates from $55 per night, including 2 Complimentary admissions to Studio 54 or Tabu.

Two Nights at Coastal Maine Resort w/Breakfast, $444 as featured on Sherman’s Travel Blog.

Book a flight + hotel + 4-day Ski Salt Lake Super Pass package in Southwest Vacations with Roundtrip flight via Southwest Airlines

Check out Chinas 10 most stunning forests with roundtrip flights from New York City (JFK) to Shanghai (PVG) for $707 on Northwest Airlines.

Save $75 at Westin Hotels & Resorts! Prices starting at $96 per person, per night.

Québec: AAA 4-Diamond Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is celebrating it’s 116th birthday with a special rate of $116 night through Dec. 17, that’s 50% OFF the hotel’s regular rates.

Fall Travel Deals to the Caymans with a Free Fall Vacation at Grand Cayman, from $205. Travel from 11/23/2009 to 12/15/2009.

Indian Ocean chic on the cheap, featured in today’s The Guardian. See how to enjoy the white sand beaches, turquoise seas and tropical paradise vibe without breaking the bank.

Save over $1,800 on 7-Night Stays in St. Maarten If booked by December 19, guests can stay seven nights in a suite, but only pay for six when traveling between January 2 and March 31.

$69 for Orlando 2-Bedroom Villas (Reg. $139) only 10 minutes to the main gate to Disney.

$113 for N.Y. Holiday Ski Getaway; Save 25% OFF Lift Passes valid over Dec. 24 – Jan. 1

And Thanksgiving Travel Deals on Southwest. Give Thanks for Great Savings and Last-Minute Airfare Prices starting at $63 per person in Southwest Vacations

No one would argue that $119 is a good price for a night in a hotel room with a view of storied Boston Harbor.  That is the price tag at The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.  But this is not just another typical low-season hotel discount.  The $119 promo runs between November 22nd and 29th and between December 17th and 29th.  Yep, it takes place over Thanksgiving and Christmas, the two times of year when prices are usually at their absolute highest.

The Renaissance Waterfront is run by hotel giant Marriott, but has a collection of amenities and a contemporary ambiance that make it more than a mere chain hotel.  The Renaissance has its own brand of plush bedding and rooms feature a full array of media options, including connectivity for personal devices and 37-inch plasma screen TVs.  The contemporary design of the rooms make this seem more like a hip boutique hotel than a typical Marriott.  The casually stylish in-house eatery, 606 Congress, adds to the upscale feel of the Renaissance.

The location of the Renaissance is another of its attractive aspects.  Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, two of the city’s most popular historic attractions are located within walking distance of the hotel’s front door, as are the many attractions of the Boston Waterfront (cruises, tours of the USS Constitution, and whale watching excursions).  The convenient location, coupled with the Renaissance Waterfront’s contemporary style, make the $119 holiday promotion one of the early winter travel deals in New England.

Traveling during the week if you’re able to is a great way to save a little money and still get some down time. The Dawn Ranch Lodge in Sonoma has lower rates for midweek stays. The Fall Vacation Special running through December 21, 2009 gives you three nights for the price of two or five nights for the price of three. Unfortunately Saturday night stays aren’t included.

Cabins at Dawn Ranch Lodge in the Fall time

If you’re not able to sneak away for a weekday getaway, there are still some specials available at the Ranch. For the Harvest season, weekend packages start under $300 and include a cabin for two nights and dinner for two at the Roadhouse Restaurant. If you’d like to travel with a group, larger cabins are available.

The Roadhouse Restaurant is known for their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays – with an extensive list of Russian Fiver appellation. The restaurant also carries organic produce from both Napa and Sonoma counties.

The Dawn Ranch Lodge was named after a variety of Redwood – the Dawn Redwood – that was thought to be extinct. Nearly seventy years ago, saplings were found in China and some were transplanted in North America. The 15-acre Dawn Ranch Lodge is lucky to be home to two of these former saplings which are now towering trees.

Creekside at Dawn Ranch Lodge

Thanksgiving season is a good time to try new wines and enjoy the company of friends and family. The Dawn Ranch Lodge has Thanksgiving Packages starting under $300. These packages include two nights’ accommodations and $20 “Roadhouse Bucks,” which are good towards a meal at the Roadhouse Restaurant or a delicious boxed lunch for an outing on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Your choice!

Dawn Ranch Lodge Christmas Time

If you prefer to celebrate holidays at home, the Parade of Lights Weekend Packages are available for December 5^th and 6^th. The Holiday of Lights in Guerneville (near the Dawn Ranch Lodge) includes a parade of more than 100 floats, antique vehicles of all sorts, horses and marching bands. If you decide to skip into town earlier than the fifth, the Dawn Ranch Lodge will be participating in the Dining Out For Life event on December 3, 2009. A percentage of diner’s total food bill will be donated to Food For Thought. The weekend package includes two nights accommodations and a dinner one night and $20 Roadhouse Bucks for brunch.

Deck Party at the Dawn Ranch Lodge

The New Years Party Package starts at under $400 and includes two nights accommodations for two, complimentary champagne and a dance party! Better yet, there’s also a New Year’s Day champagne brunch for two.

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There’s a myth that lodging in New York City is expensive, especially around the holidays. The Cool Yule Deal brought to you by the GEM Hotels in NYC has savings of about $80 less than the average price for a similar hotel room in Manhattan. There are three locations, one in SoHo, Chelsea and Midtown West.

Ultra Posh but comfy lobby of the GEM Chelsea

Dates included in this deal are November 20^th-29^th (perfect for catching the Macy’s Day Parade!) and December 18^th-29^th. The boutique hotels have three very different locations. If you’re interested in catching some shows or visiting the Javits Center for any reason, than the Midtown location is perfect for you. Also near that location is the Empire State Building, the Broadway Theater District and Times Square.

Midtown is great for seeing some of the classic tourist spots. I’d advise staying in that location during the Thanksgiving season if you’re interested in seeing the parade – Herald Square is a few blocks away. It’s also great for shopping with Lord and Taylor nearby.

If you’re more interested in eating than sightseeing the SoHo location is perfect. It’s a little off the beaten track and close to the unique shopping opportunities of the Meatpacking District.

Of course, if you’re the type of person who travels for nightlife, Chelsea is the place to be. With a plethora of unique nightclubs, bars and galleries, the Chelsea GEM location is key for experiencing it all. Also, it’s only a hop, skip and a short subway ride from Midtown where you can take in the classic tourist sites as well.

Lobby of the GEM Chelsea

As a New York City frequent traveler, I recommend staying in Chelsea (although I am a bit biased – that’s where I usually stay so I know the neighborhood very well). It’s a funky, artsy area with many colorful characters to keep you busy people watching.

The GEM Hotels also offers tips and local guides that are constantly updated. Called the GEMine, travlers are also encouraged to add their own experiences to the lobby-located chalkboard. This is a great source for local events and other happenings that you can’t find in the typical guidebook. As someone who likes to travel like a native, this is extremely helpful.

If you are interested in some more traditional tourist attractions, the hotels are stocked with iPods that have pre-loaded audio tours of different areas such as Little Italy and Times Square. These GEMwalks are complimentary for hotel guests.

For on –the-go tourists, GEMtexts is another service the hotels offer. Twice daily you’ll be alerted to neighborhood and hotel offers via your cell phone. Talk about convenient! Make sure you get your room soon – there’s limited availability and with this rate, the rooms won’t be around for very long.

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I had the opportunity to spend a past New Years in New Mexico and thoroughly enjoyed it. Prior to my trip, the Southwest region was never very high on my list of destinations. After seeing firsthand the culture, color and attractions, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.

The architecture is wonderfully different from the Northeastern building I’m used to. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of those spots. Situated near the artsy district which is mainly pueblo buildings, the Cathedral, with its pseudo-Gothic yet decidedly Southwest style towers is a  juxtaposition of culture. If you’re interested in visiting other religious spots, the San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe is said to be the oldest standing church in North America. Built in 1610, this building is open every day of the week and costs only $1 donation.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe /CC Meghan Butler

The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort is the epitome of Santa Fe style with Spanish, Native American and Southwestern cultures beautifully melded into traditional structures. The resort itself has some interesting historical background. The land was bought in 1851 by bishop Jean-Baptist Lamy. The chapel he erected nearly 160 years ago still stands.

Main Building of Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort

For the holiday season, The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch is offering Thanksgiving and Christmas deal of 25% off the regular rates.  The Ranch has many relaxing activities, including the SháNah Spa & Wellness Center with six indoor treatment rooms, two outdoor massage gardens and outdoor Japanese Watsu pool and even a hair salon. The word “SháNah” means “vitality and energy” in Navajo. With that in mind, the spa offers massages, yoga and Pilates, facials along with the traditional salon treatments of waxing, hair and nail care.

Guest Room of Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort

After some relaxation, explore the Downtown Santa Fe area’s artsy district. Artists sell their unique and handmade wares out of authentic pueblos. One of the most notable artists (whose prints can be found in almost any store in Santa Fe) is Georgia O’Keeffe, Her colorful flowers and abstract renditions are well represented in the Southwest. And rightfully so – they’re beautiful.

You can purchase real skulls in Downtown Santa Fe! / CC Meghan Butler

For the more active travels, The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch has guided horseback riding trails, a skeet and trap range and tennis courts. To keep your entourage of kiddies happy, the Lodge has youth horseback riding programs. So sign em up, saddle em up and send em out to pasture. Then enjoy some quiet time!

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Santana Row in San Jose comes alive during the holiday season with over 80 stores of luxury shopping, festive lights, a 40 foot Christmas Tree in Valencia Park.  The Hotel Valencia Santana Row offers travelers the perfect place to rest their head this holiday season as they indulge in the shopping and the festivities nearby.  From Nov. 20-29, and Dec. 18-30, hotel guests that stay at Hotel Valencia two nights in a row will receive a complimentary gift certificate entitling them to one more night for FREE, allowing consumers to take advantage of one more vacation day during these challenging economic times. 

The “Stay 2 nights, get 3rd FREE” package includes the following:

A stylish guest room for two, featuring views of Santana Row, Hotel Valencia’s stunning outdoor pool/hot tub or courtyard
Cocktails for two at the chic, sumptuously-lit Vbar
A deluxe buffet breakfast at Citrus, Hotel Valencia’s signature restaurant
Rates from $179 per room per night, double occupancy, exclusive of tax and subject to availability
A complimentary night at Hotel Valencia Santana Row that may be used in conjunction with the first two nights, or at a later date

Looking for more deals? Search our year-round San Jose hotel deals for a great rate!

Today’s photo of the day comes to us from the folks at Aspen/Snowmass.  This beautiful photo of

Buttermilk with Pyramid Peak (credit Daniel Bayer)

 us all ready to hit the slopes!

Luckily for all of the skier and snowboarders out there Aspen/Snowmass is offering a great deal for Thanksgiving weekend.  The Winternational Hassle Free Package includes: 

• Book two or more days of ski/snowboard rentals and get up to a 4-day lift ticket for $99.00 ($104 with the $5.00 refundable Gate Card), when packaged with lodging.
• Valid November 26, 2009 – November 29, 2009

You must book by November 1, 2009. 

While you are there check out the fastest women in the world, November 28-29 at the Aspen Winternational Audi FIS Alpine World Cup.  Winternational weekend includes Slalom & Giant Slalom Races on Aspen Mountain, Dine Around dining specials, fireworks and a FREE Bud Light Hi-Fi concert.